Preparing Specimens: A Glimpse into Natural History at the Bell Museum

Exploring the Fascinating World of Animal Preservation

Have you ever imagined witnessing a biology student carefully slice open a deceased otter and extract its tailbone from a tangle of yellow fat? Or perhaps seeing a curator swirl the defrosted remains of a Mexican mouse in water, then proceed to skin it and remove its rotting organs? These are just some of the intriguing activities that take place during the Bell Museum’s annual event, where curators, students, and lab specialists invite the public to observe how they preserve plants and animals for museum collections and research.

This event is a unique blend of animal biology, taxidermy, and forensic science. For those who might find the sight of animal entrails unsettling, there are alternative options available. Visitors can explore plant specimens or even create their own flower specimen on pH-neutral paper in the indoor foyer area of the museum.

On Tuesday, the event kicked off with the dissection of an otter, which filled the air with a distinct fishy odor. Additional specimens displayed under the large tent this week include a swan, a groundhog, and a porcupine. From Thursday to Saturday, the focus will shift to a fish exhibition, offering a different perspective on animal preservation.

The specimens used in these public demonstrations often come from the Salvage Wildlife project, which collects samples of deceased birds and mammals across Minnesota. According to Keith Barker, the curator of genetic resources at the Bell Museum, these donations play a crucial role in the museum's collection.

The ages of the specimens vary widely, ranging from recently collected to those from the late 20th century. However, all are stored in freezers to maintain their freshness as much as possible.

There are two primary methods used in preparing these specimens. The first method, known as round skin preparation, involves removing the musculature, organs, and most of the skeleton from the animal, leaving only the skin and a few supporting bones, such as part of the skull, tips of wings, and feet bones. The animal is then stuffed with cotton and supported by wooden dowels in a pose that allows researchers to easily examine its parts in the future. Scientists may also brush back and moisten the specimen’s feathers to lay them on the skin realistically.

“These kinds of skins, when properly cared for in a controlled environment, can last for centuries,” said Barker.

For specimens that have dried out or are too crusty for round skin preparation to be valuable, researchers may opt to scrape all the skin and meat from the specimen’s bones, keeping the entire skeleton instead.

Despite the inevitable gore involved, the Bell Expeditions are designed to be kid-friendly. On Tuesday, the session attracted a group of first- and second-graders attending summer camp at the museum’s planetarium, who listened intently as researchers discussed animal anatomy.

“We have a certain percentage of people who approach, figure out what we’re doing, and immediately go back into the museum,” Barker noted. “But I would say the vast majority of people are really interested, curious, and want to see more about what’s going on.”

With free admission, the Bell Expeditions at the Bell Museum, located at 2088 W. Larpenteur Av., in St. Paul, continue through Saturday, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. This event offers a rare opportunity for the public to engage with the fascinating world of animal preservation and gain a deeper understanding of the processes involved in maintaining museum collections.